Feedback & Reports

Having not seen this beat before, we were quick to discover two deeper pools on the left hand side. I decided to drop in the first run and my friend dropped in the last swim which had a big deeper slack on the inside after the rapids.
I started on a small dumpy waggler fishing down the middle with corn and feeding pellets and had the odd chub to 3.8lb then a small barbel of about 2lbs, nice on the float...
I ended up with six chub and two barbel the other being three pounds and one dace.
My friend had six chub and a welcome barbel of 8lb 12oz a PB. All caught on feeder tactics and meat.
The river was low and clear with bright sunshine so we felt we had done well. I recomend the WUF to anybody who has a passion for angling and the countryside. Look out for the kingfishers, not often you see three fishing together. We'll be back.

3 Barbel, 12 Chub, 1 Other

The river conditions were not ideal as it was low and clear, but with overcast conditions hopes were high. Fishing from 7am till dark on beat 4 & 3. The action kicked off straight away with a 6lb 8oz barbel first chuck for me, and a 7lb 4oz for J.P. I then followed that with a 7lb 14oz 2 hours later, when it started to brighten up as the cloud cover dispersed. A few chub were caught, the best being 4lb 12oz by S.P. The afternoon was very slow with 2 bites had but no fish. I lost a large fish about an hour before dark, and few more chub bites were had but no more fish landed. We all fished halibut and hemp though the groundbait feeder. A great day out in gorgeous surroundings. Will definitely be back.

3 Barbel, 4 Chub

The anglers on the far bank, opposite the beach, packed up after a couple of hours and that probably should have been our cue too. However, we stuck it out, but for little reward. The noisy pump is a constant reminder of how abstraction continues even when the Wye is rock bottom low.

1 Barbel, 4 Chub

The second day of our trip. The two of us that caught the day before started in the same swims we ended in the previous evening. I was in the waterworks swim but couldn't get a touch so decided on a move. The same was for the two of the party who struggled on the Saturday. The fourth member of our party got of to a great start with an 11 lbs 3 ozs barbel in the woods, his second double in two days. By late morning he had caught two more barbel and decided to head home very satisfied with his 12 barbel over two days. As the other two also decided to head home early I moved into my friends swim. A good move! Steady action came through the rest of the day and I ended up a tired but happy angler after bagging ten barbel to 9 lbs 13 ozs and six chub to 4 lbs 8 ozs. The session showed what Courtfield is about. It can be hard going at times but if you get on the fish the rewards are like nowhere else. I suspect the fish will spread out a bit if we get some rain but seem very localised at the moment, making it hard for everyone to catch. The fish were all in immaculate condition. Will be back next year.

13 Barbel, 6 Chub

Fished a shallow swim for the evening. Picked off the odd fish early on until the barbel properly switched on in the last hour. Brilliant sport, caught on pellet, no feeders, catapulting free offerings over. Will be back!

10 Barbel, 1 Chub

Arrived to be greeted by low cloud and mist, water understandably low and clear. A great start, landing a small Barbel within a minute of the first cast hitting the water. Persevered with feeder and pellet for majority of the day but couldn't sustain the pace of the first few minutes.
Two further small Barbel (approx. 1.5lb) before resorting to free-lining meat later in the day, which duly accounted for two fine Chub of 3lb and 2lb.
Whilst I fully appreciate the river also belongs to canoeists, and I do expect Saturdays to be very busy at this time of year, I would say the constant traffic between 10am and 4pm (and I mean constant) was not conducive to worthwhile fishing. In particular, the slack water between the numerous croys at Wyebank seem to be the go-to areas for canoe-schools, with groups of 10-15 spending most of the day there, practicing their new skills, effectively rendering two thirds of the beat unfishable.
Lost 2 larger fish, definitely Barbel. One whilst free-lining, which sped approx 10 metres into a snag, unstoppable!, the other on pellet who's first run snapped a 10lb hook-link. Fished until 7pm, the conditions and the beat promised great things but in the circumstances, finished with a reasonable 3 Barbel and 2 Chub.
Fishermen will always want to catch bigger fish, but it's also great to see the next generation of Wye Barbel in such fine condition!
Despite the 'distractions', still an enjoyable day on the river. Great to see the Buzzards overhead, the wagtails and robins catching insects, and the kingfishers criss-crossing the river between the canoes. Fascinating to watch them waiting for a safe gap in traffic, just as we would, to cross the road. Thanks to all at WUF for all the hard work.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

River low and as such only a few swims that had any depth were viable options. The fish were caught throughout the day from both the upper and lower pools. Pellet, boilie were used and both baits caught used with a feeder. A very acrobatic pike kept us amused whilst leaping for silver fish after the feeder went into the top pool.
A very nice stretch but limited options in these low conditions, worth considering taking the float tackle I reckon.
As mentioned before, do beware of the ramp. You can just about swing round it without going over if you don't feel confident your car will make it. First visit to this section and I'd like to come back but maybe with a bit of water on.

15 Barbel, 10 Chub

Got to the beat @ 9 am on an cool overcast morning, walked the bank and decided to start our day at the bottom of the length in the faster shallower water across from the shingle bank. The pegs looked fishy and the bailiff/ranger (nice bloke) had said some barbel had been caught there recently, even thought the river was low. Fished pellets, close into the bank but had no luck as the day warmed up.
At around 2ish we had a walk up the length, looking for some deeper water and decided on the try the peg directly across from the line of trees dividing fields. Mixed some ground bait with pellet and hemp and fished feeder or pellet PVA over top. Didn't take long before knocks and bites started to come. From then on it was just about turning the bites into fish. We came away with 4 barbel between 7-8 lb and 2 chub and lost quiet a few more.
A great days fishing from the strong fight barbel in the beautiful setting of The Wye. Shall return again soon.

4 Barbel, 2 Chub

With the Wye very low and clear we were driven to fish the oxygenated water of Church stream. This was largely to no avail as only one chub graced our efforts. As usual some canoeists were a complete pain. Most - including parties of children - were fine; the more capable ones negotiated Church stream easily, the less experienced dragged their canoes safely across the exposed gravel. However, we still had to contend with 3 50 something men who delighted in ramming their canoe into the infamous sunken branch and then whooping with delight at the fact that they hadn't sunk it. And then there were the stone throwing yobs....

1 Chub

Fished 10.00am to 7.00pm. River low and clear. Tried end swim by willow on road side for 3 hours without a sniff to either bread, corn, meat or pellet. Then tried the far side and despite seeing chub and small barbel couldn't persuade them into accepting a bait.
Returned to first cut-out swim, half way along, on road side at about 3.00pm and had the first chub of about 1lb on meat by 3.30pm. Things picked up from there with constant loose feeding of meat (madras or paprika), pellet and sweetcorn. By the time I left, they were queuing up, finished with 10 chub, 8 over 3lb, largest 3-12, and a bonus barbel of 5-10.
All fell to (barely) rolled meat on a 2 swan link ledger in mid river. Didn't lose any tackle, or fish, in snags.
Not many swims on the beat, could do with another 1-2 foot of water, but when you find the fish....

1 Barbel, 10 Chub